Pump Prices Keep Climbing as Crude Oil Remains High

Pump Prices Keep Climbing as Crude Oil Remains High

Drivers paying over $4 per gallon in many areas
Valerie Puma
Drivers paying over $4 per gallon in many areas

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $4.13, up a cent from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.20. The New York State average is $4.13, up 6 cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.11. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

  • Batavia - $4.13 (up 15 cents from last Monday)
  • Buffalo - $4.16 (up 15 cents from last Monday)
  • Elmira - $4.08 (up 9 cents from last Monday)
  • Ithaca - $4.14 (up 14 cents from last Monday)
  • Rochester – $4.18 (up 14 cents from last Monday)
  • Rome - $4.14 (up 13 cents from last Monday)
  • Syracuse - $4.14 (up 13 cents from last Monday)
  • Watertown - $4.19 (up 9 cents from last Monday)

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline went up a cent since last week, however, prices locally saw a more noticeable jump. The national average and New York state average today are both $4.13 for a gallon of regular. Diesel prices also remain elevated. The national average is $5.65, up 3 cents from last Monday while the New York average is $5.95, up 4 cents in the past week.

Crude oil prices remain high, coming in at $101-$103 per barrel this morning, as the conflict in the Middle East continues. The price for a barrel of crude dropped below $100 but then rose again, highlighting the volatility of oil markets and fluidity of geopolitical events. In 2022, gas prices remained elevated from March through August, after Russia invaded Ukraine, peaking in June when the nation average reached a record of $5/gallon for one week.

When it comes to EV charging, the national and state averages for L2 commercial electricity remain steady. Today’s national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station remains at 42 cents. New York’s rate is 40 cents, down 1 cent from last week. The state is home to 20,494 chargers. An estimated 1.2 million AAA members live in households with one or more electric vehicles.

To conserve fuel, motorists should map routes, avoid peak traffic times like rush hour, and combine errands into one trip while using cruise control when possible. Drivers should also make sure tire pressure is at the vehicle’s recommended level for the best gas mileage while removing any unnecessary and bulky items from the car since it takes more fuel to accelerate a heavy vehicle. Motorists can benefit from comparing pump prices before filling up with the AAA Mobile App for iPhone, iPad, and Android.

AAA members enjoy savings on gas at Love’s Travel Stops or by joining the Fuel Rewards at Shell program. Learn more about those discounts here. Motorists can locate gas prices across the country and stay up-to-date on news and fuel-saving tips at www.gasprices.AAA.com while the AAA Mobile App locates the cheapest fuel prices based on a user’s location.